History
The first football league was established in Lithuania in 1924, and in various forms existed until 1939. Due to the Polish–Lithuanian War, clubs from Vilnius did not take part in early period of the Lithuanian football competitions. Later during the period of Soviet occupation, a Lithuanian amateur top division existed, while professional players played in USSR football competitions. The Lithuanian professional top division was restored in 1990. The naming convention changed several times, but since 1999 the league is consistently referred to as A lyga.Format
The league system and size have also stabilized since 1999. League size varied mostly between 8 and 10 teams, with the exceptions of 2011 A Lyga featuring 12 teams, and 2020 A Lyga record low of only 6 teams. The teams play 4 rounds in regular season. The bottom placed team is relegated, while 9th placed team contests in a play-off with the 2nd placed team from the I lyga. The final list of participants often did not correlate to the final results of the previous season, as the participation were rather finalized through the Lithuanian Football Federation league licensing process. The season usually kicks off in february/March and ends in November. Because of harsh climate, there are no games in winter until early spring (April/March) and it depends on the weather/temperature. Games are played in indoor arenas on artificial grass. The winter transfer window opens in early January through to mid March, summer transfer window lasts for the most part of July.European competitions
Lithuania sought to participate in the UEFA club competitions immediately after regaining the independence. However, due to political reasons, in 1991Clubs
a Founding member of the A LygaSponsorship
The official ball supplier for the A lyga games in 2023 is Adidas. Nike held this contract between 2013 and 2022, when they took over from Adidas.Hall of Fame
Interbellum and WWII
After Lithuania gained independence in 1918, the first ever football tournament was held in 1922.Seasons
Note: In 1924–1930, 1935, 1942, 1942–1943 and 1945 seasons there was no unified league and winners were decided using either a play–off format or a single game between winners of separate divisions.Performance by club
All champions from this period are defunct.Post-War period and the Lithuanian SSR Championship
During the Lithuania's Soviet occupation, each soviet republic ran their separate football championship. The clubs could either participate in the competition of the soviet republic, or in the Soviet Union football league system.Seasons
Note: The biggest and most notable clubs, such as Žalgiris Vilnius played in Soviet Union's FootballPerformance by club
Clubs currently playing in A Lyga are written in Bold.Regained Independence and the A Lyga - present
As Lithuania regained the independence in 1991, the Lithuanian Football Federation (LFF) was re-established, and A Lyga was shaped same year. The Soviet football divisions dissolved, and the teams that participated in them returned to the Lithuania's national championship.List of champions (1991–present)
Seasons
Performance by club
Clubs currently playing in A Lyga are highlighted in Bold.Top scorers
Most appearances
References
External links